GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – The Colorado Mesa University men's basketball team had five players score in double figures in an 89-82 loss to Westminster Saturday (Feb. 4).

James Sylvester led the Mavericks with a game-high 23 points, including 12-15 from the line.

Eimer Lopez poured in 20, including nine from the line, for the Mavericks.

Nate Halwey and Kabir West scored a combined 22 points, and Brandon Hoffer finished with 10.

The Griffins raced out to an early lead that grew to a game-high 16 points, 32-16, following a lay-up and free throw by Casey Evans at 8:08 of the first.

The Mavericks responded by closing the half on a 23-10 run to trail 44-43 at the break.

WC shot 50-percent (17-34) from the field and drained seven threes.

CMU shot 42-percent (11-26) and only made three shots from behind the arc. The Mavericks made 18-of-20 free throws while the Griffins made all three of their attempts.

The Mavericks kept the Griffins lead to single digits early in the second half, but Sam Orchard drained a 3-pointer with 6:12 remaining to give WC a 77-64 lead.

Mesa chipped away at the Westminster lead, and James Sylvester drained his only 3-pointer of the night with 70 seconds remaining to pull the Mavericks within three, 83-80.

Jarred Laws missed from behind the arc on Westminster's next possession, but Zerrion Payton came up with the crucial offensive rebound for the Griffins. Mason Smith came up with a big dunk and made the free throw to extend the WC lead to six.

Eimer Lopez made a pair of free throws for CMU at the other end.

The Mavericks got the ball back down four with 33 seconds remaining thanks to strong defense which caught the Griffins in a five second call.

Mesa turned the ball over before it could attempt a shot and was forced to foul. Westminster drained three of its four attempts at the line down the stretch.

Free throws were heavily in Mesa's favor. CMU shot 33-43 (76-percent) from the line, and WC was 19-24 (79-percent).

Westminster won the rebounding battle 46-30, including 17-9 on the offensive glass. WC out-scored CMU 18-9 in second chance points.

Colorado Mesa (7-16, 6-11) will play at Adams State Feb. 10.